Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System

Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System

The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System is a pedestrian transport system connecting Central and Mid-Levels in Hong Kong. The escalator system spans 800 meters in length, with a vertical rise of 135 meters, and consists of 20 reversible single-direction escalators and 3 moving walkways, linked by covered walkways and pedestrian footbridges.

The system starts at the Central Market, running along Gough Street, Hollywood Road, Shelley Street, Cochrane Street, and Robinson Road, ending at Kennedy Road. According to the Guinness World Records, it is the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system. The entire journey takes approximately 20 minutes. In the Hong Kong movie "Chungking Express," actor Tony Leung, playing a police officer, rides the escalator to work, while the female lead, played by Faye Wong, watches him from her apartment window—a classic scene.

The direction of the escalators changes during peak morning and afternoon hours: every day, the downward direction operates from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and the upward direction runs from 10:20 AM to midnight. The service is free of charge. According to 2008 statistics, around 81,000 people use the system daily. It is currently managed by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. The escalator route passes several attractions, including the bustling SoHo district, known for its bars and restaurants, and the historic former Central Police Station, a century-old site designated as a declared monument of Hong Kong, which attracts many visitors from China and abroad.

Transportation Guide

Location: Kennedy Road, Central and Western District, Hong Kong

How to get there: Exit C at Central Station, walk straight along Des Voeux Road Central, turn left at Jubilee Street, and walk for about 10 minutes.